Causes of Vomiting

Viral Gastritis. Stomach infection from a stomach virus is the most common cause. Also called stomach flu. A common cause is the Rotavirus. The illness starts with vomiting. Watery loose stools may follow within 12-24 hours.

Food Poisoning. This causes rapid vomiting within hours after eating the bad food. Diarrhea may follow. Caused by toxins from germs growing in foods left out too long. An example is Staph toxin in egg salad.

Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen products (such as Advil) can be a stomach irritant. If taken on an empty stomach, it can cause vomiting.

Food Allergy. Vomiting can be the only symptom of a food reaction. The vomiting comes on quickly after eating the food. Common foods are peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish (such as shrimp).

Coughing. Hard coughing can also cause your child to throw up. This is more common in children with reflux.

Motion Sickness. Vomiting and dizziness are triggered by motion. Sea sickness or fun-park ride sickness are the most common types. Strongly genetic.

Migraine Headaches. In children, most migraine headaches also have vomiting.

Serious Causes. Vomiting alone (without diarrhea) should stop within about 24 hours. If it lasts over 24 hours, you must think about more serious causes. Examples are appendicitis, a kidney infection, diabetes and head injury. A serious cause in young babies is pyloric stenosis. See below for more on this.

Cyclic Vomiting. Cyclic vomiting is the most common cause of recurrent attacks of vomiting. Attacks have a sudden onset and offset. Often occur in children who later develop migraine headaches.

Pyloric Stenosis (Serious Cause)

The most common cause of true vomiting in young babies.

Onset of vomiting is age 2 weeks to 2 months

Vomiting is forceful. It becomes projectile and shoots out.

Right after vomiting, the baby is hungry and wants to feed. ("hungry vomiter")

Cause: the pylorus is the channel between the stomach and the gut. In these babies, it becomes narrow and tight.

Risk: weight loss or dehydration

Treatment: cured by surgery.

Vomiting Scale

Mild: 1 - 2 times/day

Moderate: 3 - 7 times/day

Severe: vomits everything, nearly everything or 8 or more times/day

Severity relates even more to how long the vomiting goes on for. At the start of the illness, it's common for a child to vomit everything. This can last for 3 or 4 hours. Children then often become stable and change to mild vomiting.

The main risk of vomiting is dehydration. Dehydration means the body has lost too much fluid.

The younger the child, the greater the risk for dehydration.

Dehydration: How to Tell

The main risk of vomiting is dehydration. Dehydration means the body has lost too much water.

Vomiting with watery diarrhea is the most common cause of dehydration.

Dehydration is a reason to see a doctor right away.

Your child may have dehydration if not drinking much fluid and:

The urine is dark yellow and has not passed any in over 8 hours.

Inside of the mouth and tongue are very dry.

No tears if your child cries.

Slow blood refill test: longer than 2 seconds. First, press on the thumbnail and make it pale. Then let go. Count the seconds it takes for the nail to turn pink again. Ask your doctor to teach you how to do this test.

A child with severe dehydration becomes too weak to stand. They can also be very dizzy when trying to stand.

When to Call for Vomiting Without Diarrhea

When to Call for Vomiting Without Diarrhea

Call 911 Now

Can't wake up

Not moving or too weak to stand

You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Headache

Dehydration suspected. No urine in more than 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears.

Stomach pain when not vomiting. Exception: stomach pain or crying just before vomiting is quite common.

After 4 hours without throwing up, return to regular feeding at the breast. Start with small feedings of 5 minutes every 30 minutes. As your baby keeps down the smaller amounts, slowly give more.

Older Children (over 1 Year Old) - Offer Small Amounts of Clear Fluids For 8 Hours:

Water or ice chips are best for older children. Reason: Water is easily absorbed in the stomach.

Other clear fluids: Use half-strength Gatorade. Make it by mixing equal amounts of Gatorade and water. Can mix apple juice the same way. ORS (such as Pedialyte) is usually not needed in older children. Popsicles work great for some kids.

The key to success is giving small amounts of fluid. Offer 2-3 teaspoons (10-15 mL) every 5 minutes. Older kids can just slowly sip a clear fluid.

After 4 hours without throwing up, increase the amount.

After 8 hours without throwing up, return to regular fluids.

Caution: If vomits over 12 hours, switch to ORS or half-strength Gatorade.

Stop All Solid Foods:

Avoid all solid foods and baby foods in kids who are vomiting.

After 8 hours without throwing up, gradually add them back.

Start with starchy foods that are easy to digest. Examples are cereals, crackers and bread.

Do Not Give Medicines:

Stop using any drug that is over-the-counter for 8 hours. Reason: Some of these can make vomiting worse.

Fever. Mild fevers don't need to be treated with any drugs. For higher fevers, you can use an acetaminophen suppository (such as FeverAll). This is a form of the drug you put in the rectum (bottom). Ask a pharmacist for help finding this product. Do not use ibuprofen. It can upset the stomach.

Call your doctor if: Your child vomits a drug ordered by your doctor.

Try to Sleep:

Help your child go to sleep for a few hours.

Reason: Sleep often empties the stomach and removes the need to vomit.

Your child doesn't have to drink anything if his stomach feels upset and he doesn't have any diarrhea.

Return to School:

Your child can return to school after the vomiting and fever are gone.

What to Expect:

For the first 3 or 4 hours, your child may vomit everything. Then the stomach settles down.

Vomiting from a viral illness often stops in 12 to 24 hours.

Mild vomiting and nausea may last up to 3 days.

Call Your Doctor If:

Vomits clear fluids for more than 8 hours

Vomiting lasts more than 24 hours

Blood or bile (green color) in the vomit

Stomach ache present when not vomiting

Dehydration suspected (no urine in over 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth, and no tears)

You think your child needs to be seen

Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.